Southern California -- this just in

Man in Gumby suit says he was at store as a joke and never said 'robbery'

September 16, 2011 | 5:41
pm

The 19-year-old man who wore a Gumby suit into a 7-Eleven store in San Diego says it was a joke and he never used the words "robbery" or "gun."

"I never said any of those words," Jacob Kiss told KGTV (Channel 10). "...Those never came out of my mouth."

Kiss turned himself in to San Diego police this week for questioning in the Labor Day incident. So did his friend, Jason Giramma, also 19, who admitted driving the supposed getaway car.

The clerk at the store in the Rancho Penasquitos neighborhood told police that the Gumby-suit wearer threatened to pull a gun if he did not hand over some money.

But Kiss told the television station that he meant the incident as a joke.

The store's surveillance camera shows Kiss attempting to reach inside his Gumby suit. Kiss said he was reaching for his wallet to pay for a pack of cigarettes, not reaching for a gun.

Kiss and Giramma were interviewed by police but not arrested. The case has been turned over to the San Diego County district attorney to determine if criminal charges will be filed.

Kiss said he likes to wear the Gumby suit to cheer people up. But he added that he does recommend anyone else wearing a Gumby suit, gorilla suit, chicken suit or other costume go into a store or "this is what's going to happen."